How to Get Recruited for College Basketball (Men's) in 2026

RawRecruit covers 1,821 men's college basketball programs across D-I (352), D-II (292), D-III (392), NAIA (218), and JUCO (567). NCAA rules no longer set a scholarship limit for Division I men's basketball. Since July 1, 2025, schools in the House settlement have a roster limit of 15 instead. Schools that did not opt in still can't go above the old 2024-25 limit of 13 without taking on the settlement's terms. The AAU/grassroots circuit (April-July) is the primary evaluation window for D-I coaches.

RawRecruit's Fit Score algorithm matches basketball players to programs based on height, position, academic profile, geographic proximity, and school culture, helping you find programs where you'll actually get playing time, not just make the roster.

Point Guard (1): Court vision, ball handling, leadership. Height is secondary to skill: 5'10" to 6'3" at D-I, more flexible at D-II/D-III. Must be able to run the offense and defend.

Shooting Guard (2): Shooting range, scoring ability. 6'1" to 6'5" at D-I. Three-point shooting is the most recruitable skill in modern basketball.

Small Forward (3): Versatility is key. 6'4" to 6'8" at D-I. Must be able to shoot, drive, and defend multiple positions. The "Swiss Army knife" position.

Power Forward (4): 6'6" to 6'9" at D-I. The modern 4 must be able to shoot. Stretch fours who can space the floor are highly recruited. Rebounding and toughness matter.

Center (5): 6'8"+ at D-I. Shot-blocking, rebounding, rim protection. Post scoring skills are a bonus. Some programs recruit mobile 5s who can switch screens.

AAU/Grassroots Season (March-July): The most important evaluation period. D-I coaches attend AAU tournaments, Nike EYBL, Under Armour, and Adidas events. If you play AAU, this is where scholarships are offered.

April Recruiting Period (April 9 to 30, 2027): Coaches can make in-person, off-campus contacts and evaluations. High school and AAU games are scouted heavily.

Summer live periods (June 11 to 13 and 25 to 27, 2027, then July 8 to 11 and 15 to 18, 2027): Coaches can watch in person but can't talk with recruits off campus. AAU nationals and certified events. Many late-blooming recruits get discovered here.

Early Signing Period (November 11 to 18, 2026): First opportunity to sign for Division I.

Regular Period (from April 14, 2027): Programs fill remaining spots, and each school sets its own final date.

Transfer portal: Players can enter the portal during April 6 to 20, 2027. There is no August window. Creates significant roster turnover and high school recruiting opportunities.

For D-I basketball recruiting, your AAU team matters almost as much as your high school team. Coaches attend AAU events specifically to evaluate talent in a concentrated setting. Playing for a well-known AAU program increases your visibility, but smaller programs can still produce D-I recruits if you perform well at the right events.

If you don't play AAU, focus on summer camps at your target schools. Many D-II, D-III, and NAIA coaches recruit primarily through camps rather than the AAU circuit.

Straight answer: a 6'7 center is right at the D-III median, so outside D-I he needs film that shows more than his height. On 2025-26 college rosters, the median D-III player listed at center is 6'7", and D-II centers are listed at 6'9" and NAIA centers at 6'9".

• Hands and footwork. Catches in traffic, a drop step with a counter, and finishes with either hand.
• Rebounding out of his area. Clips of him going up for balls away from his body, on both ends.
• Passing out of the post. Reads against a double team, and outlets that start the break.
• How to read the table. These medians count only players listed at center, and the NAIA figure rests on fewer players, which the table shows.

Build his list from programs whose current centers are near his size: find programs where his height fits.